Ribbons to remember American soldiers overseas

Louise Carnesale and Maureen Tagliafierro from the 42nd Infantry Family Readiness Group, a support group of families and friends whose loved ones serve in the Army National Guard 42nd Infantry Division, explained the symbolic nature of the "table set for one."

The table is a ceremonial gesture typically conducted at military functions to remember those missing from the ranks.

Carnesale, chair of care packages and fundraisers for the group, said several non-military people are unaware of the practice. She said it was an opportunity to share the practice with the public.

"We should never forget," Carnesale said.

Carnesale and Tagliafierro also collected items to send in care packages to the troops overseas from the 42nd Infantry in Troy.

According to Carnesale, more than 400 men and women from the 42nd Infantry will ship out in April or May.

The group will be holding a Teddy Bear Picnic at the Saratoga Springs Veteran's of Foreign Wars post No.420 Saturday, May 17, to commemorate Armed Forces Day.

They will be collecting teddy bears 10 inches or smaller to send to troops in Afghanistan.

She said the troops would keep the bears for 24 hours before passing them on to an Afghan child.

She said the picnic would feature lunch for $4 and activities for children throughout the day.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," Carnesale said of the event.

Vicki DiMura, the mother of the late Sgt. David Fisher of Watervliet, attended the ceremony Wednesday as well. A scholarship honoring her son, who was killed in Baghdad in December 2004, will be given to a student from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, according to Hotaling.

Fisher was from the Army National Guard 42nd Infantry Division in Troy and a graduate of Watervliet High School.